Harlow Once, I entertained a childish dream, naïve, fleeting, and foolish. A father who cherished me. A family unbroken by betrayal. But dreams are the illusions of the weak, and my mother ensured I outgrew them swiftly. Now, I do not believe in love. I do not crave family. And I most certainly do not need a husband. Yet in this world, my desires are irrelevant. A pact was forged in my name. An arranged marriage to a man I had never met, a cold-blooded transaction to cement an alliance. But when night falls, the groom changes. Because the man who clasps the ring around my finger is not the one I was meant to wed. Dante Salvatore. Capo dei Capi. Merciless. Calculating. Lethal. He is a decade my senior, twice as ruthless, and infinitely more perilous. If he believes I will be a docile, submissive wife, he is gravely mistaken. No man commands me. No man possesses me. Love? I do not need it. Do not desire it. Do not believe in it. But someone else does. Someone who lingers in the abyss. Who watches. Who waits. Who murmurs my name like an unholy vow. He leaves me messages only I can decipher. I was never meant to belong to him. And yet, in his mind, I always did.
Dante I am a man of discipline. As Capo dei Capi, I did not seize power through recklessness. My empire stands upon a foundation of ruthlessness, control, and absolute precision. I do not take unnecessary risks. I do not make decisions governed by sentiment. I do not entertain liabilities. And yet, here she stands, my wife. I never desired a bride. Never sought her. Yet from the moment Harlow Moretti was bound to me, I have been unable to release her. She is wildfire and defiance, a temptation I cannot subdue. I resisted. I faltered. I fell. And then, they took her from me. They dared to steal what is mine. Now, I will raze the world to bring her back. And those who dare stand in my way will beg for mercy they will never receive.
This is a dark romance featuring mature and potentially triggering themes. Reader discretion is advised—please review the content warnings before beginning. A guaranteed happily ever after. No cheating. The morally grey hero is completely obsessed with the heroine, his loyalty is absolute, and his eyes are only for her.
It’s how we would want any arranged marriage to go! She finds out about family she didn’t really know she had. He is obsessed with her from the first moment they met. She pushes everyone one of his buttons just because she can. Plus who doesn’t love a crazy cliffhanger!
If you love an arranged marriage romance with a dark, obsessive mafia boss and a fierce, independent heroine, this book delivers in all the best ways. Harlow and Dante's chemistry is explosive from the moment they’re forced into marriage, and their push and pull dynamic keeps you hooked. Harlow is everything you want in a strong female lead, she's unapologetic, fearless, and not afraid to call out Dante, even when he’s at his most controlling. She doesn’t back down, whether it’s from her powerful new husband or the dangers lurking in the shadows. Dante is the ultimate possessive, ruthless, and dangerously devoted mafia boss. From the moment he lays eyes on Harlow, she becomes his obsession, and he’ll stop at nothing to keep her safe, especially when a relentless stalker starts threatening her life. Adding heart and humor to the mix is Dante’s eight-year-old son, Matteo. He’s charming, mischievous, and steals every scene he’s in. His bond with Harlow is one of the book’s sweetest aspects, making their new family dynamic even more compelling. And let’s not forget—Harlow has zero hesitation in spending Dante’s money, which leads to some fun, indulgent moments that balance out the darker, more intense parts of the story. This book is a perfect mix of passion, danger, and family, with a heroine who refuses to be controlled and a hero who will burn the world down for her.
I love it when a book is about an arranged marriage, featuring a strong female main character (FMC) and a protective male main character (MMC) who treats her like a queen. This book exceeded my expectations; I didn't think I would like it so much, let alone love it. The banter and tension between the main characters were excellent. I didn't even notice the lack of spice until it appeared, and I am very satisfied with how it was handled.
The relationship between Harlow and Mattia stood out to me as one of the most beautiful aspects of the plot. Although I find it hard to describe the storyline, it is incredibly engaging and grabs your attention in unexpected ways, with shocking developments throughout. I also enjoyed Harlow and Dante's relationship, despite sometimes struggling with their miscommunications and misunderstandings.
Dante's character is intriguing, especially how he searches for her stalker and strives to protect her from harm. I appreciated how he comforts her when she experiences panic attacks. 🫠🫠🫠 I'm really excited to dive into the second book of this duet and can't wait to see what happens next in this amazing story.
Harlow is now one of the best fmcs I have read about so far!!! She’s resilient, independent, so strong but it was nice to also see a vulnerable side to her. Loved her relationship with mattia. <34
Dante is just so unhinged, but in the best way. !!!
“I should warn you, I’m expensive. I’ll spend all your money.” His smirk deepens. “Good. I like expensive things. They last longer.”
“You look utterly divine.” He pauses, then adds with finality. “My name suits you well, Mrs. Salvatore.”
“The sight of them together stirs something dark and possessive in my chest, a satisfaction I refuse to name. She’s mine. In every way that matters.”
“You dare lay your eyes upon my wife?” My voice is lethal. Designed to carve fear into his very bones. “What gives you the misguided notion that you have the right to even look at her?” !!!!!!!
“She’s becoming my fucking obsession.”
“Because if you ever speak about my wife, I’ll put you in the ground.” !!!!!!
I drop to my knees before her. Not out of weakness, but because she is mine, and I am hers.
From page one until the last page I was glued to this book. Who doesn't love a strong FMC! This is book 1 of 2. Harlow & Dante. An arranged marriage mafia romance. You would think that Dante would capture your attention but its Harlow that owns this book. You wait with bated breath for the next word that the author writes. Harlow, she survived as awful childhood. There was no love in her home. She's pawned off to marry a mafia leader but she holds her own. We all strive to be strong women but this girl is another level. She owns my heart 💞. Dante, a fierce leader, a single father . He doesn't want to care about Harlow but he can see just how unbreakable this woman is. I loved how she captured his heart. Now straight to book 2 🇮🇪🍀
This was surprisingly good. I didn’t expect it to be like this. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve read a book where both MCs are stoic and standoff-ish. Getting to see both of them have a hard exterior and interior but only ever softening for Mattia was something I didn’t realize I was going to love so much.
Every moment in this book kept me on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have an idea on who it is, but now I’m wondering how her stalker has known about her for so long. Off to book 2 to find out!
This marriage of convenience within the Italian mafia was So bloody and good!! Between the badass FMC and her psycho possessive husband, we were kept entertained! Add to that a stalker and a new found family! This story was so addictive and entertaining the I couldn’t put it down! So well written, great banter, sizzling hot and sexy scene, great plot and suspense… i recommend this duet! And now I want to read more about the other characters!!!
Ok so i enjoyed the book. I’m going to read book two if that gives you an idea of it being worth the read. Spice started around 80% but build up happened before. Did not take the turn i thought when it came to the mafia marriage part. There is a cliff hanger in book one and the touch her and die vibes are crimson red flag and just how I like them.
This was everything I want in a mafia romance. Strong FMC with her own problems, unrelenting MMC but is soft for his family. The plot is just as good as the spice and this was just an all around really good book. PLEASE take care of yourself. Trigger warning page is in the front of the book. Your mental health maters. On to the next book.
A fast paced beauty of a book! I loved it! I couldn’t stop reading! Dante and Harlow are my favorite! She’s his exact match and the way she stands up for herself is so inspiring! I love that she gives as good as she gets! The way Dante fell first was just beautiful 🤩 A definite recommend!
Mafia romance. Arranged marriage. Single dad. Found family. Feisty heroine. Possessive hero that falls fast & hard. Stalker. Trauma/healing.
Dante and Harlow stole my attention from the very beginning. The chemistry, passion, sensual tension between them are off the charts. Their story is one addictive read, with great plot and added suspense. End cliffhanger made me pick up 2nd book in duet straight away. Criminally underrated. Highly recommended.
⭐⭐⭐Not terrible, not a favorite, but just enough to keep you going.
This is one of those books that sits comfortably in the middle. Marketed as enemies to lovers, arranged marriage, age gap mafia romance, it delivers on those tropes... mostly. We get dual POVs from Harlow, the FMC, and Dante, the MMC, and while the overall plot involving mafia politics, arranged marriage, and power struggles works, some elements felt a little forced or surface-level.
Harlow is written as a strong female lead with a soft core, but the execution didn't feel seamless. You can see the blue print behind her personality, rather than feelikng like a fully formed character. Dante, supposedly the Capo dei Capi, makes choices that don't exactly scream "top mafia boss". It's hard to buy him as the most feared man in Italy when he's constantly blindsided and doesn't follow through his threats.
The writing itself is fluid and easy to follow, and it does end on a solid cliffhanger that had me picking up the next book immediately, which says something.
So while I wouldn't label it a favorite or a re-read, it's enjoyable enough to pass the time, especially if you're looking for something fast-paced with mafia vibes and familiar romance beats.
This mafia romance was utter perfection. First, it was not cringe, and I really appreciated that, sometimes, as much as I enjoy an overly posessive 6ft something Italian man, it just sounds all wrong, and there is not enough Cara mias in this world to take away the cringe. But Dante Salvatore was nothing but perfection. I didn’t particularly like him at the start, there was something dangerously wrong with him, and boy was I in for a ride.
If you are in for an arranged marriage, closed proximity, overly possessive MMC, with an absolute strong Queen of an FMC, this is the book for you. First out of a duet, it ends on an absolute cliffhanger I needed 2 weeks to recover from, I cannot possibly wait for the second book, and I just couldn’t put it down honestly. I’m all here for the ‘touch her and die’ moments, but also for the ‘touch him and lose a hand’ moments. I loved the dynamic between the FMC and the MMC, loved her strength and her not taking any bullshit and also her quiet defiance.
I liked the story, the spice was appropriate, not out of nowhere, and the way the slow burn was built up was nothing short of absolute perfection. Felt so fortunate to have had an ARC copy of the book, and I am counting down the days until we find out what happens next.
I love it when a book is about an arranged marriage, featuring a strong female main character (FMC) and a protective male main character (MMC) who treats her like a queen. This book exceeded my expectations; I didn't think I would like it so much, let alone love it. The banter and tension between the main characters were excellent. I didn't even notice the lack of spice until it appeared, and I am very satisfied with how it was handled.
The relationship between Harlow and Mattia stood out to me as one of the most beautiful aspects of the plot. Although I find it hard to describe the storyline, it is incredibly engaging and grabs your attention in unexpected ways, with shocking developments throughout. I also enjoyed Harlow and Dante's relationship, despite sometimes struggling with their miscommunications and misunderstandings.
Dante's character is intriguing, especially how he searches for her stalker and strives to protect her from harm. I appreciated how he comforts her when she experiences panic attacks. 🫠🫠🫠 I'm really excited to dive into the second book of this duet and can't wait to see what happens next in this amazing story.
I had the privilege of ARC reading Shadows of Steel by Sina Lennox, and if you like the following: *Mafia Romance *Single Dad *Arranged Marriage *Age Gap *Possessive MMC *Strong Heroine *Touch her and 💀 *Found Family *Stalker Then this is the book for you! I was so captivated by her writing style and the world of Harlow&Dante. I felt like I was an outsider looking in and watching everything unfold as I read every sentence. From watching everything Harlow encountered and came on top, to her banter with Dante and showing him she’s not some scared little girl. Just when you think she’s just a hard shell with a mental wall, you see how soft of loving she can be when it comes to Dante’s 8 yr old son Mattia. Then there’s Dante, he exudes power and control. But does not stop when you touch or mess with what’s his. He will go to hell just to protect what belongs to him. Especially Harlow when he realizes she’s in danger from a stalker after he leaves her a message to find when she returns home from her engagement party to Dante. Just when things start to heat up between them, Harlow’s world turns upside down, and you realize you’re in for quite the ride.
If you like mafia romances where the FMC can make the merciless and feared mafia MMC down to his knees, then this is for you.
Harlow is a strong FMC and she never lets anyone take away her freedom. She moves to Italy, wanting a fresh start from her terrible past and unknowingly finds herself back into trouble’s door. She doesn’t let that deter her and even when she’s unintentionally found her biological father, Harlow still pushing back.
Dante, a ruthless and merciless mafia don who shows no weakness becomes obsessed with Harlow. Her fire is what drew Dante to her and never lets her forget it. Their chemistry is so intense and the banter is to live for. Not only that but the way Dante is so protective of her and makes sure everyone treats her like the queen that he sees her as.
Dante’s son, Mattia is such a little cutie and his relationship with Harlow makes me love them and the story even more. I can’t wait for the next book to find out what happens and to read more about Dante and Harlow.
Amazing. So this is part 1 of a duet that is built around the Italian mafia. The characters are really great. Harlow, the mfc is not one of those common frustrating female leads. She's fiery and strong and I'm so here for it. And Dante, the all powerful head of the family is just smoldering. I love him so much. I won't drop any spoilers but the pacing of the book is great and I like the flow from start to end. The character building is really well done and the tension building through between them was top notch for me! I can't wait for the 2nd book now.
Dante Salvatore and Harlow Moretti have completely stolen my heart. Harlow is the ultimate badass FMC – fierce, independent, and never backing down from anyone. And then there’s Dante, the possessive, brooding alpha who never believed in love… until he fell hard and first. The chemistry between them was Off. The. Charts. The tension, the obsession, and those touch her and die vibes had me HOOKED. 🖤 Mafia romance 🖤 Age gap 🖤 Single dad 🖤 Arranged marriage 🖤 Strong, kickass heroine
Mafia Romances will never fail me BUT one written by Sina Lennox feels like it will always be an automatic 5 star! (a little mad about the cliff hanger though) I am obsessed with Harlowe she is snarky, strong, and my kind of woman! And Dante, he can worship a woman! 🤍🤍 in order not to give spoilers just know there is one other character who I love, he is the sweetest part of this book! I literally cannot wait to read the next one! If you have not picked up a book by Sina Lennox this is your sign to do so asap!
An arranged marriage between two of the biggest families in Italy means this story is going to be dark. While we don't see a lot of the darkness on the page, there is quite a bit off the page. I was given a free copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. While the mmc and the fmc are trying to avoid falling for each other, we are taunted with hints of a stalker in the shadows. We are left with a cliffhanger and I'm on pins and needles awaiting the next book! The storyline and progression are really good and did I mention that cliffhanger?
So much tension. The connection is amazing and I fell in love with the characters right away. The cliff hanger at the end… ugh can’t wait to have the rest of the story!